After years of being in all kinds of relationships with narcissists (family, friendship & romantic), I realize I’m different than your average woman. This happens to victims of narcissists. Even once we realize what has happened to us, we’re different because of the experience. Trauma has a way of changing a person.

Those changes can be for the better, such as when we are able to recognize abusive people quickly & set boundaries with them. The changes also can be for the worse. Sometimes dealing with those closest to us, especially our spouses, can be difficult even when it shouldn’t be simply because of our past experiences. I am hoping this post will help victims & their partners to understand what is happening so they can work through the problems together.

Victims are taught not to have needs & feelings & if they express any, narcissists shame them for having them. This can make it incredibly difficult to open up to anyone, even someone we love who isn’t a narcissist. First, a victim feels wrong & ashamed for feeling or needing whatever they do. Then that person is terrified of being shamed or invalidated for having them. Even if someone has been nothing but kind to a victim, the victim still can fear that person’s disapproval or rejection. If your partner is that way, please don’t take it personally. It isn’t your fault! It’s a side effect of narcissistic abuse. Please just be patient. Listen without offering advice unless you are asked for it. If you don’t understand something, ask questions without sounding judgmental.

Being overly negative happens sometimes too. Partner, it’s not your fault! Healing from narcissistic abuse is a long, arduous, painful journey. Sometimes it gets to be too much. It feels like everything is bad, even when it truly isn’t. It can be very easy for a victim to get mired down in negativity. Please do NOT tell this person to cheer up, others have it worse or get mad. That will only add to the negative mindset. Maybe suggest going out to dinner or to the park- some small gesture to distract the victim could be helpful. Make your loved one feel loved & safe. Let her know she can talk to you if she wants to, but doesn’t need to if she doesn’t want to.

Along the lines of being very negative is making small things a big deal. When you feel overwhelmed in trying to heal, or if you have C-PTSD or PTSD like so many victims of narcissistic abuse, sometimes you feel you can’t handle one more thing. Then when that one more thing comes along, it’s too much & you blow up. Even something as simple as misplacing a pen can push you over the edge & you snap at your spouse who had nothing to do with the missing pen. If this is happening, try suggesting some down time to your spouse. Suggest lunch out with a good friend, or you both go somewhere you enjoy like the movies. Even a brief reprieve can be helpful in regaining a better perspective.

Many victims project the image of not needing their partner. People who grew up with narcissistic parents had to be very self reliant. It became a way of life. Even if a victim has shed that behavior, if there is any issue in the victim’s marriage, self preservation kicks in & this behavior comes to the surface. As the person who sees this behavior, let it be a sign to you that something is wrong in your marriage. Try to figure it out. Ask your spouse if everything is OK & be reassuring of your love.

Emotional withdraw is common too. Suddenly, those little nice things your mate did for you stop or seem to be a burden to do. Maybe your mate is too tired for sex when that was never an issue before. This is a sign something is wrong. Try doing nice gestures like bringing home your partner’s favorite coffee or a new book, CD or DVD. Little gestures like that can be reassuring & may make your spouse feel more willing to open up to you.

Being married to someone who has survived narcissistic abuse can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. A little love, compassion & understanding can go a long way.

Abused survivors can unfortunately end up married to a narcissist and continue the long saga of abuse. That leaves the person caught in the vortex of two cyclones. Thankfully, there is hope for those of us who have that experience as well. I pray that others will stand together with survivors and stand against abuse. http://www.hopehasahome.wordpress.com

That’s awful about the smear campaign! They can be just brutal, for sure. I lost about everyone in my divorce thanks to my ex’s smear campaign. It turned out good in the long run, but was painful to go through!

I was blessed on three of the marriages to narcissist abusers and got free divorces. The best I can described it is when you get to the really pissed off stage and your so mad at them that your no longer mad at yourself.

At one point I was angry, after pushing through the denial stage, then I was grateful to be free and divorced. Now it is more annoyance at the smear campaign and monkeys who deny reality and harass almost incessantly. I am grounded by being single again!

Unfortunately no, I don’t know of any recommendations. I have a Facebook group, & many of the ladies in it have been through awful divorces from narcissists. They would probably know a lot more than me. If you’d like to join the group & talk to them, you’re welcome to do so. It’s a closed group, so no one but other group members see your posts & comments. Oh, & if you opt to join, on the request to join page, I have a couple of questions I want new members to answer. Please just tell me it’s you & I’ll let you right in.

Nine years after the last one I’m not crying and hurting over the loss of my home, all my belongings, thousands upon thousands of dollars, realizing the game that was played, going homeless again, and being stupid. My dumb ass cries because I loved him and I’ve actually never loved anyone so hard in my life.

Maybe those of us who have experienced it whether it be many times or one time can help others to become survivors or recognize it and get out. Becoming a survivor means you outsmarted someone extremely smart.

My Facebook Fan Group
I no longer have a facebook fan page. Due to wanting more privacy for my fans, I created this group. It is a safe place to discuss my work, their own battles with abuse/healing/recovery, or, well, anything they like!